Sean Cremin serves as a research associate at the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), contributing to the Economic Policy Center. His work emphasizes improving upward mobility, narrowing disparities in employment, and broadening socioeconomic access through fairer and more effective policy design. Before joining PPIC, he worked as a senior research associate at NORC at the University of Chicago, supporting assessments of federal initiatives aimed at reducing poverty and inequality. He earned a master’s in public affairs from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and a bachelor’s degree in politics, philosophy, and economics from Pomona College. n nJulien Lafortune, a senior fellow at PPIC and member of the Economic Policy Center, specializes in education and labor economics. His research spans K–12 funding, school infrastructure, human capital development, and workforce policy. He has produced numerous policy documents, briefs, and academic papers on topics including education finance, labor markets, demographic trends, and housing. His scholarly work has appeared in the American Economic Journal: Applied Economics and the American Economic Review: Papers and Proceedings. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of California, Berkeley. n nDaniel Payares-Montoya, also a research associate at PPIC, contributes to both the Economic Policy Center and the Higher Education Center. His research explores pathways to greater economic access via labor markets, the interplay between higher education and employment, income distribution, green jobs, and regional development. Prior to PPIC, he consulted for the World Bank on sustainable growth and climate finance in developing nations, and worked as a researcher at UC Berkeley’s Center for Latin American Studies, examining globalization and industrialization impacts in the Americas. He has also studied productivity, education, and employment systems for institutions in Colombia, including Fedesarrollo and Proantioquia Foundation. He holds dual master’s degrees—one in public policy from Universidad de Chile and another in development practice from UC Berkeley. n nPPIC operates as a nonpartisan, nonprofit entity. It does not advocate for or against any ballot measures, legislation, political parties, or candidates. The views expressed by individuals affiliated with the institute are their own and do not reflect an official stance of the Public Policy Institute of California. n— news from Public Policy Institute of California
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The Economic Milestones of Young Californians
Sean Cremin is a research associate at the Public Policy Institute of California where he is a member of the Economic Policy Center. His research focuses on advancing upward mobility, reducing labor market disparities, and expanding socioeconomic opportunities through more equitable and effective economic policymaking. Prior to joining PPIC, he worked as a senior research associate at NORC at the University of Chicago where he supported evaluations of federally funded programs aimed at mitigating poverty and inequality. He holds a master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and a BA in politics, philosophy, and economics from Pomona College. n nJulien Lafortune is a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, where he specializes in education and economics. He is also a member of the PPIC Economic Policy Center. His primary areas of focus include K–12 education finance, school infrastructure, human capital, and labor market policy. He has authored policy reports, briefs, presentations, and blogs on a variety of policy topics, including K–12 education, labor market issues, demographics, and housing markets. He has published academic research papers on school finance reforms and school capital investments in the American Economic Journal: Applied Economics and the American Economic Review: Papers and Proceedings. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of California, Berkeley. n nDaniel Payares-Montoya is a research associate at the Public Policy Institute of California. He is a member of the PPIC Economic Policy Center, and he also contributes to the PPIC Higher Education Center. His research focuses on expanding economic opportunity through the labor market, the relation between the labor market and higher education, income inequality, climate-related jobs, and economic development. Before joining PPIC, he worked as a consultant for the World Bank, concentrating on green growth and green finance in developing countries, and as a researcher at the Center for Latin American Studies, University of California Berkeley, focusing on the socio-economic impact of globalization and industrialization in the Americas. He has also conducted research on productivity, education, and labor markets for Fedesarrollo, the Private Council on Competitiveness, and Proantioquia Foundation in Colombia. He holds a master’s degree in public policy from Universidad de Chile and a master’s degree in development practice from the University of California, Berkeley. n nPPIC is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. PPIC does not take or support positions on any ballot measure or on any local, state, or federal legislation, nor does it support, endorse, or oppose any political parties or candidates for public office. Any opinions expressed by event participants are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect any position of the Public Policy Institute of California.